Cleary, the coach of the Panthers, should avoid sentimental goodbyes.
As the minutes count down to Penrith’s NRL grand final match against Brisbane, coach Ivan Cleary is hoping to avoid getting caught up in the emotion of losing more important players.
Spencer Leniu and Stephen Crichton, two local juniors, will play their final game for the Panthers on Sunday at Accor Stadium before moving on to the Sydney Roosters and Canterbury, respectively, for the upcoming season.
They have collectively participated in 181 games for the Panthers, including the team’s most recent two championship wins.
After the championship, bench utility Jack Cogger will also be moving on to Newcastle, while 2022 premiership winner Jaeman Salmon will join the Bulldogs but won’t be available on Sunday.
The Panthers, who have won four straight premierships, are used to losing players every off-season.
Among the premiership winners who left for more money or opportunities elsewhere were Matt Burton, Kurt Capewell, Api Koroisau, Paul Momirovski, and Viliame Kikau.
At fulltime of the victory last year, the renownedly unflappable coach Cleary and the Wests Tigers-bound hooker Koroisau shared an emotional moment.
The departing players won’t be mourned this time, though, if Cleary has his way.
“We’re hoping not.
I don’t mean that negatively; I’m just trying to stay grounded and focus on this game,” Cleary said.
“Everyone is aware that this is their final game and the final game for the entire team.
“However, getting prepared and playing well is what matters most.
The rest we can worry about later.
“.
The Panthers will soon become the first team in 40 years to win three straight premierships when they complete the remaining 80 minutes of the game.
As one of only two people to have orchestrated three consecutive premierships since the captain-coach era ended in the late 1960s, Cleary can join Jack Gibson in making history.
The Panthers’ coach isn’t thinking much about leaving a legacy.
I’m just trying to stay present with what my job is over the next 24 hours and what will be, he said, adding that he wasn’t thinking about it.
As the Panthers get ready to face a rampaging Broncos team, Cleary will offer similar guidance.
In addition to the outcome, whether positive or negative, he said, “It’s important to focus on the actual game and the process of the game.”.
“Those thoughts (about the outcome) all definitely enter.
“But you’ve got to try and replace that with what’s important, the work each guy has to do as a team, and how we have to play tomorrow night.
“.
